ACTIVITY 1: FILIPINO SCIENTISTS
Dr. Alfredo Villa-Gracia Lagmay
Born: August 14, 1919
Died: December 15, 2005 (aged 86)
Nationality:
Filipino
Alma mater: University of the Philippines Diliman
Harvard University
Dr. Alfredo Lagmay originally wanted to take up medicine “to heal and assuage pain” but lack of
resources constrained him for doing so. He took up Psychology instead. He was a working
student and was assigned to different offices of the University of the Philippines in Diliman.
After the Second World War, he shifted to Philosophy and graduated Cum Laude in 1947. He
was appointed instructor at UP in the same year and took up his master’s degree in Philosophy
while teaching. In 1950, he went to Harvard University on a UP Fellowship grant to take
advanced studies in Psychology. He obtained his master’s degree in 1951 while still at Harvard
and went on to take further studies until he finished his doctorate in experimental psychology
in 1955. He returned to the University of the Philippines and resumed teaching as an assistant
professor of Psychology. He also became Chair of the UP Department of Psychology upon his
return. With his Harvard training under Dr. BF Skinner, Dr. Lagmay greatly influenced the
development of scientific psychology in the Philippines. He introduced behavioral studies in
psychology and published numerous researches on experimental analysis of behavior
modification, relaxation and related states, and hypnosis. For his numerous contributions to
the Philippine scientific community, Dr. Lagmay was appropriately conferred the National
Scientist Award in 1988, the highest award given to Filipino scientists.
Reference: https://pssc.org.ph/scientists/alfredolagmay/#:~:text=Lagmay%20greatly%20influenced%20the%20development,and%20related%20
states%2C%20and%20hypnosis.
Dr. Alfredo Lagmay recognized for his researches in experimental analysis behavior, behavior
modification, relaxation and related studies and hypnosis.
His Ph.D. research worked on the concept of reinforcement of operant behavior or
instrumental conditioning, in which the frequency or rate of responding is the important
dependent variable in the study of behavior. This was followed by his work on the use of fixedratio and variable-interval schedules of reinforcement. His research interests included values
education, Philippine culture and psychology, and western psychology in the Philippines. Dr.
Lagmay is most cited for his view of bahala na obtained from a study using a variation of the
thematic apperception technique: “that within the culture, bahala na is a positive, functional
response to uncertainty,” and not fatalism. Bahala na is “not submission, surrender, retreat or
cessation of effort.” Dr. Lagmay designed two psychological tests in the 1960s which were
widely used in psychological testing, programmed instruction, behavioral medicine, and value
education.
Reference: Defining the Contributions of Members of NAST PHL to Science & Technology in the
Philippines
Author: Evelyn Mae Tecson-Mendoza, Academician, National Academy of Science
Alfredo Lagmay, together with his student Virgilio Enriquez, came up with the sikolohiyang
Filipino (Filipino psychology). During their time, the basis for psychological studies is that of the
western ones, but realizing that was problematic since the Filipinos came from a totally
different background, he encouraged the development of new methods in approaching the
study about Filipino psychology that would be more appropriate with its diverse cultures. He
furthermore argued that for psychology to be relevant to a certain group, it must understand
the people within its own culture and its cultural norms.
Reference: http://archimedesheatray.blogspot.com/